Clamping device for stereotypers



(No Model.) ZSheets-Sheet 2.

J. R. CUMMINGS.

' GLAMPING DEVICE FOR STEREOTYPERS UASTIN-G BOXES.

No. 433,448. Patented Aug. 5, 1890.

QXWPneoew gwoawlioz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. CUMMINGS, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO THE AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION, OF ILLINOIS.

CLAMPING DEVICE FOR STEREOTYPERS CASTING-BOXES.

PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 433,448, dated August 5, 1890. Application filed January 3, 1888. Serial No. 259.7%. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN R. CUMMINGS, of New York, New York county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clamping Devices for Stereotypers Casting-Boxes; of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and letters of reference marked thereon.

I-leretofore when casting stereotypeplates, after the cover of the casting apparatus is closed onto the box, before the metal is poured into the same they have been clamped together by several individual hook-shaped clamps, which were pivoted to the box in such manner as to be capable of being oscillated transversely over the edge of the cover, in WlllCll position, by means of screws passing through the ends of the hooks and impinging against the upper surface of said cover, they clamped the box and cover together. This arrangement made it necessary for attention to be given to each clamp-hook, thus requiring considerable time and labor, and, besides,

making it difficultto always obtain the same pressure between the edges of the cover and box at all points. My invention is designed to avoid the ne cessity of any personal attentionbeing given to the clamping devices at all, because the clamping devices operate automatically when the mold is oscillated from the horizontal position (in which position it is prepared for casting) to the vertical position, (in which position the metal is poured intoit,) substantially as hereinafter fully described, and as illus trated in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is alongitudinal central section of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a view showing the back or under surface of the box. Fig. at is a side View of a modification of my invention. Fig. 5 shows a side elevation of a stereotype casting-box and cover, showing modified devices for throwing the bolts which look the box and cover together. Fig. 6 shows a rear edge view of my invention with that part of theknuckles through which the pintle passes in cross section, and Fig. 7 shows a detail View of the end of the pivotal shaft of the box.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the box of a stereotypers mold, and B the cover thereof. The construction of the box and cover is the same as those in common and extensive use, and they are supported by and oscillated between the usual L-shaped frames 0.

Instead of providing the box A with trunnions which are journaled in the open bearings in the ends of the shorter vertical portion 0 of frames O, I prefer to secure in said ends the transverse stationary shaft 1), as shown in Fig. 7. This shaft passes through female bearings in the flanged sides of the box, and is preferably provided near its center of length with bosses (Z and e, whose peripheries are circular and whose centers are offset from the center of shaft 1), the former d toward the front of the apparatus, and the latter 0 a corresponding distance toward the rear of the machine, diametrically opposite to each other.

J ournaled on the bosses d and e are the inner ends of the links D and E, the former pursuing a longitudinal horizontal course to the front of the machine, where it is secured to the transverse bar F, and the latter pursuing a similar course to the rear, where it is secured tothe transverse bar G. These bars F and G are removed a corresponding distance from the shaft 17, with which they are parallel, and their ends extend through the longitudinally-elongated guide-holes f f in the side flanges of the box and have secured to them the bolts g g.

Bolts g 9 move in the guides or staples projecting from the sides of the box, as shown, and those secured to the end of the rear transverse bar G have their engaging ends slightly tapering and pointing toward the front of the machine, whereas those secured to the ends of the forward transverse bar F have their engaging ends slightly tapering and pointing toward the rear of the machine.

Secured to or made integrant with the sides of the cover B, at such points that they are contiguous to but nearer the shaft 1) than the bolts 9 g, are the plates or lugs H. These plates I-I extend down laterally past the meeting -edges of the cover, so that when said cover is closed upon the box they lap over h h, so located with reference to said bolts that when said cover is closed upon the box and the bolts are shot simultaneously toward the center of length of the same they enter said notches and lock the box to the cover. I prefer to bevel the entrance to said notches r recesses h, so that the bolts can enter easier, and so that the bolts can bring the box and cover closer together the farther they enter said notches.

When said casting apparatus or mold is'in ahorizontal position, the bolts are at the limit of their throw away from the notched plates H. As the mold is oscillated to a vertical position preparatory to having the metal poured therein, the bolts are shot into the notches according as the links assume the perpendicular position, or, in other words, according as they are thrown out of alignment wit-h an imaginary straight line intersecting the centers of the eccentric bosses d and e, on which their ends next shaft 1) are journaled. As these links are thrown into the vertical position, they draw the transverse bars Fand G toward the center of length of the mold a distance corresponding to the diiference between the radius of said links and the radius described from the center of shaft b to the bars F and G when the mold is in a horizontal position. When the mold is oscillated back to the horizontal position, the bolts are pushed out of the notches in plates H. By exchanging the positions of the centers of the eccentric bosses d and e the bolts would be shot outward away from the centers of length of the mold. The plates H in this event would be so situated that they would be nearer the ends of the mold, so as to be in register with the bolts when shot.

Instead of eccentric bosses d 6, arms it may project horizontally from the shaft b, to the ends of which the links D and E are pivotally connected.

If desired, I can construct the box with trunnions in the usual manner, and instead of using the links D and E and transverse bars F and G can use two links on each side of the box. K would be pivoted on lugs projecting from the side of the shorter vertical end a of the frames 0, in positions intersected by transverse horizontal lines passing through the center of the trunnions. These links would extend alongside of the sides of the mold, and would be pivotally secured direct to the bolts. The mold being turned to a vertical posit-ion, the same action of the bolts will follow with this construction as with that heretofore explained.

WVhile I prefer the stationary transverse The inner end of these links K shaft Z2, yet I could, as shown in Fig. 5, make a shaft 7", that could be oscillated by means of a crank v independently of the mold. In this event, however, I would have to secure ratchets s upon'the shaft just outside of the bearings of the box and pivotally secure pawls t to the side of said box, which would engage the ratchet and prevent said shaft from independently revolving back to its normal position when the power which was exerted to turn it was released therefrom. With this construction the shaft would oscillate with the mold when the latter was tilted to the perpendicular position.

In order to use my improved mold for both plate and type-high casting, Iprefer, as shown in Fig. 6, to use an eccentric pintle L, passing through the knuckles m m of the box and a n of the cover, which, when turned so that the offset portion on which the knuckles n n of the cover are pivoted will be above the center of the pintleitself, will separate the edges of the box and cover, so that the typehigh gages 0 0 can be placed between the same. I also, in this event, provide each of the plates H with two notches instead of oneone for the plate-high casting and the other to be engaged by the bolts for the type-high casting.

That I claim is 1. In a stereotypers casting apparatus, the combination, with the cover having notched plates secured to the longitudinal sides thereof, of the tilting box, to one end of which said cover is hinged, the reciprocating bolts, and the links for operating said bolts having their ends farthest from said bolts pivoted eccentric to the tilting center of said box, as set forth.

2. In a stereotypers casting-box, the combination, with the cover and notched plates secured near the ends of each side thereof, of the box, bolts, transverse reciprocating bars, the ends of which project through longitudinally-elongated apertures in the side flanges of said box, and the links connected at one end to said bars and having their oppositeends pivoted eccentrically to the transverse stationary shaft upon which said casting-box oscillates, as set forth.

3. In a stereotypers casting-box, the combination, with the cover and notched plates secured near the ends of each side thereof, of the box, bolts, transverse reciprocating bars, links, and transverse stationary pivotal shaft, said shaft. being provided with eccentric offsets, upon which the inner contiguous ends of said links are jou'rnaled, as and for the purpose set forth.

JOHN It. CUMMINGS. In presence of- PORTER B. COOLIDGE, FRANK D. THOMASON. 

